- The best media streaming boxes to buy

- Which is the right media streamer for you?

- We've compared all the best streamers to help you choose

A lot of TVs today have streaming services available as part of their Smart TV platforms, but there are still plenty of us that still have "dumb" TVs. And, in that case, if you want to access streaming services, you'll need a streaming box or dongle.

With such a vast range of services on offer though, and a wide range of set-top-boxes that support a combination of them, choosing the right one can be tricky.

Lucky for you, we've consolidated all the major options into one place, in price categories, to help you decide which box is for you and your budget.

Best media streamer under £50

Amazon Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote

Coming in the form of a dongle you plug directly into your TV, the Amazon Fire TV Stick is mainly centred on the Amazon Prime experience, with Prime Video, Amazon Music and a link-up to images stored on the Amazon Cloud being at the forefront.

That doesn't mean it is solely for Amazon content streaming though, with Netflix and many other streaming apps available on Amazon's extensive app store. BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All 4, My5, Plex - for those with home stored content they want to stream - and many games and other experiences are available too.

The latest model comes with an Alexa Voice Remote, so you can quickly find Amazon or Netflix content using just your voice. It also does pretty much everything an Amazon Echo speaker does too, with the ability to find out the weather or latest news headlines by simply asking or even control your smart home.

The Fire TV Stick doesn't have the 4K support of the more powerful Fire TV box (below), but does offer a smooth, speedy experience and excellent Full HD pictures and surround sound, thanks to its 1080p output and 7.1 Dolby Digital audio.

You can even take it on holiday with you as Amazon has added a cunning way for you to input room and log-in details for connection to hotel Wi-Fi.

Google Chromecast

Like the Amazon Fire TV Stick, the Google Chromecast device is a dongle that plugs directly into a HDMI port on your TV. However, it more resembles a small hockey puck.

It's not quite a movie and TV show streaming solution like many of the others listed here. Instead, it works with compatible apps you have on your smartphone or tablet and plays their video or music content on a larger screen.

Unlike Apple TV though, which does similar over Airplay, that's not done by mirroring a device, using the processing power of the phone or tablet. Instead, the Chromecast pulls the content from the internet itself. It effectively turns your mobile device into a remote control.

It is capable of playing Netflix, YouTube and any Google Play movies, TV shows or music you might have bought. Android, iPhone and iPad apps that have also added support include BBC iPlayer, My5, BT Sport, Now TV, Blinkbox, Wuaki.tv, Deezer and there are plenty of others too. Spotify is part of the mix too.

Plex support also means you can stream your own content through a computer too.

Gaming is available on the latest model, with certain games having the ability to Cast the action to the device and then onto the big screen. The list of titles is small, to be honest, but Angry Birds Go is one of the biggest name games already featuring support.

Pocket-lint

Roku Express

The Roku Express gives access to the vast library of applications on the Roku store, most of which are free to download (although you will still need subscriptions for most). It's an all-new design from the Streaming Stick of old, coming in the form of a tiny box that can be attached to your TV by way of an included double-sided piece of sticky tape.

It also comes with a remote control (that's actually bigger than the device itself), that works on IR, so you'll need to make sure the Express is in your line of sight.

Like all Roku devices, the Express has access to hundreds of apps (channels), including the solid line-up of main movie and streaming services. You get access to Amazon Video, Netflix, Now TV, BBC iPlayer, ITV Player, All 4 and My5.

While it can't be plugged out of sight and out of mind into an HDMI socket around the back of your TV, its diminutive size means it won't exactly be an eyesore.

It is capable of outputting up to 1080p video and has dual-band Wi-Fi connectivity like its larger cousin (although there is no wired internet connection, so you'll need to be in range of a decent wireless signal).

Pocket-lint

Now TV Smart Stick

The cheaper of the two Now TV devices is a small dongle that plugs into the back of your TV, much like the Fire TV Stick. It is made by Roku and is therefore similar in size and style to that manufacturer's own-branded devices.

Its purpose is to present Sky's Now TV content in as easy a way as possible for those who don't already own a home entertainment device capable of accessing the service.

Naturally, the Now TV Stick's main focus is to provide access to Now TV - Sky's streaming service that offers separate contract-free subscription or pay models for movies, entertainment, kids and sports. But, there is also access to BBC iPlayer, ITV Player, All 4, My5 (as Demand 5), Vimeo, YouTube, Flixster and other streaming services.

You can also use the Sky Store to rent or buy modern day-and-date films as they are released on Blu-ray and DVD. All of these you can access and use, even if you don't subscribe to any of the Now TV packages.

It is worth noting that, currently, all Now TV content is restricted to 720p even though the Stick is capable of playing other video up to 1080p.

Now TV Smart Box with 4K and Voice Search

Like the Smart Stick above, Now TV's other device is also made by Roku. However, it is shaped more like a set-top-box and will require a space in front of your telly or in a cabinet.

It offers all the same features, including Now TV services front and centre, along with voice search through the included remote control. You can also pair the controller with your TV to adjust its volume and on/off capabilities.

The big difference with the Smart Box though is that it is 4K-capable - the cheapest 4K-ready device in this round-up. It can output video up to 4K 60fps and is HDR compatible too.

Few apps sport that, however, with just Netflix offering 4K HDR content from the box (if you have a Netflix Premium subscription). Now TV's own content is still only presented in 720p.

Other apps that come pre-installed include BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All 4, My5 (as Demand 5) and YouTube. There are more than 50 apps available in total, which can be downloaded from a dedicated app store. A microSD card slot is present if you need to expand the storage to fit them all.

Amazon ditched the set-top-box form for its updated Fire TV in favour of a dongle that plugs directly into your TV through an attached, short HDMI lead. This is in addition to the Amazon Fire TV Stick above.

Where it differs is that it supports 4K video and in HDR, and can play Ultra HD content at up to 60 frames per second. That might become important somewhere down the line. And thanks to the cable being built-in, you don't have to worry about whether your existing HDMI cables are high-spec enough.

The new Amazon Fire TV also supports Dolby Atmos surround sound, something Netflix and others are looking to add to their platforms. We expect Amazon Video to, for example, considering it has a device that is compatible.

Like the Fire TV Stick, the Amazon Fire TV comes with an Alexa Voice Remote, which opens up the world of the voice assistant to use on your TV.

The Amazon Fire TV immediately offers Amazon-based content as soon as you fire it up. Content includes music, movies, TV shows - some to buy and some to rent - and the box is intrinsically linked with Amazon Prime, the company's subscription service.

However, other, rival services are also available, including the aforementioned Netflix, Sky News and YouTube, with content being integrated in the new design almost as much as Amazon's own. BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All 4 and My5 are also available as catch-up services in the UK.

Pocket-lint

Google Chromecast Ultra

The flagship of the Chromecast family comes with 4K Ultra HD streaming capabilities, so is priced to match. The Chromecast Ultra supports Dolby Vision and HDR for those with compatible TVs. And an Ethernet connection means you can hard wire it to ensure your video streaming remains smooth and stable.

It is also a dongle like the conventional Chromecast (above), with a similar form factor. And again, you use a smartphone or computer to control it, with the Ultra streaming video over the internet based on what you "Cast" to the device.

The exact same app line-up for the standard Chromecast is supported here. The main difference however, is that the Chromecast Ultra is capable of streaming 4K video from relevant services, such as Netflix and YouTube.

Netflix, for example, is capable of streaming 4K Dolby Vision (or HDR) video to compatible televisions. You can also stream from terrestrial apps, like BBC iPlayer, All 4 and Now TV, although they do not currently support 4K.

If you have a 4K TV and want the best video quality it is worth paying a bit extra for the more capable Chromecast. Its Dolby Vision support is welcome and not found on many rival devices.

The faster internet connectivity, needed for 4K video streaming, also ensures than non Ultra HD video is presented at its best too.

Best media streamer under £200

Apple TV

The fourth generation Apple TV box was launched in 2015 and is still available, even though a 4K version has now been launched too (see below).

It has a touchscreen remote control with Siri voice recognition, and access to its own App Store to purchase and download tvOS apps based on their iOS equivalents.

It provides access to movies, TV shows and music bought or rented through iTunes, plus the Apple Music streaming service. And it can search for content across multiple services through the one search bar, bringing up results no matter the source.

There is an impressive line-up of applications and games to download and enjoy - many of them free.

More importantly though, in video streaming terms, Amazon Video, Netflix and Now TV apps are available. TVPlayer and iBox TV UK are present to watch British TV channels through the device. And there are several home media streaming apps, including Plex and Infuse.

A dedicated TV app from Apple gives you access to catch-up content from the likes of BBC iPlayer and ITV Hub. Plus, you can stream additional content through an iPad or iPhone to the Apple TV via Airplay. It will even mirror your iOS device's screen.

Like Amazon Fire TV and the Nvidia Shield Android TV, another major aspect to the Apple TV is that it doubles as a great casual games console too. There are plenty of titles already available, some of which almost identical to their dedicated console counterparts.

Although it still sells the HD version of Apple TV, for just a little more you can upgrade to a 4K version, which also supports high dynamic range (HDR) visuals in both the HDR10 and Dolby Vision formats. It also supports Dolby Atmos surround sound on supported movies.

That means streaming services, such as Netflix and Amazon Video both offer up to Ultra HD content in HDR - the best format possible. In addition, Apple offers 4K HDR versions of movies through iTunes to rent or buy.

A bold and welcome step that Apple has taken is that 4K versions of films cost the same as HD editions. And any compatible HD movie you bought before should be automatically upgraded to the 4K version for free.

iTunes-streamed 4K films will also be shown in HDR where possible. You'll need a compatible TV, of course, so now is probably the best time to invest in one if you don't already. You might even consider plumping for a Dolby Atmos surround sound system while you're at it too.

Everything else about the Apple TV 4K is similar to the HD model, except it has a considerably faster A10X Fusion processor - the older model uses the A8 processor. This ensures this version of the box runs twice as quickly and with four times the graphics power.

Pocket-lint

Nvidia Shield TV

The second generation Shield TV box is more than a media streamer - it's a capable games machine too. It has a load of firepower under the hood so is significantly more powerful than most on the market. It is also capable of outputting 4K video in 60 frames per second and HDR.

In addition, it utilises an Nvidia chipset that is very capable with gaming, so has a stack of optimisation abilities for games that none of the other rival boxes can match. And you can choose to buy one version with an included, dedicated games controller or opt to knock a bit off the price with a version with just the Bluetooth remote.

As an Android TV box, the Nvidia Shield TV has access to Google Play content, including its app store, a dedicated app for video and one for music. Google's YouTube service is also represented too, which is important as it's one of the sources for 4K content.

It also comes with Plex and Netflix pre-installed, with the latter capable of Ultra HD streaming in HDR. You can subsequently download Amazon Video, which also has 4K HDR programming.

There are Nvidia dedicated apps for its different game services, such as the enhanced versions of Android games that require the box's beefier graphical specs to run, the ability to stream games from a local PC, and the firm's own cloud gaming service, GeForce Now.

Thanks to the Google Play Store, hundreds of other apps are available too, including the much-loved free media streaming app Kobi. Disney's streaming service Disney Life is also available, as is Twitch.

It can even double as a Google Chromecast, so you can use an Android or iOS device to send other content to it. And Google Assistant voice-control support has been added in recent times, so you can use the device to control your smart home or interact with just like you would a Google Home.